Humidity in the home can be due to a number of factors, including those linked to the construction itself or poor sealing of certain areas such as the wall or floor. The normal level of humidity in a house is between 40% and 65%, above which it represents a health risk for all inhabitants, as it encourages the proliferation of germs and moulds.
To ensure the health of the whole family, it’s very important to track down all sources of humidity and take appropriate action.
Focus on best practices to combat humidity and mould in the home.
Risks associated with humidity inside the home
When humidity levels in the home are too high, mould appears not only on walls, but also on wooden objects such as furniture.
These moulds are particularly dangerous to your health, as they release spores that can cause respiratory illnesses. Certain symptoms should therefore alert you: chronic fatigue, recurring headaches, irritation of the eyes and nose, chronic cough… Over the long term, these spores can cause more serious illnesses such as asthma, rhinitis and bronchitis.
If you suffer from these conditions and have mould in your home, you must first remove it, then treat the moisture problem.
How to clean mould?
Moulds are easily recognized as greenish stains that spread across walls. This is actually a fungus that you can easily clean with a fungicide product.
To clean them effectively, you can use bleach such as Impec brand, as this product is particularly effective. Rub the walls with a soft cloth soaked in bleach, then rinse with clear water and dry with a clean cloth.
How to combat humidity inside the home?
Mould is nothing less than the manifestation of excessive humidity in the home. To prevent it from reappearing, you need to treat the problem at source.
Ventilation is the key to a healthy home: you should always air the inside of rooms well by opening windows all day long, or at least for a few minutes every day, to renew the ambient air.
Next, you need to identify the rooms in which humidity is most likely to develop, particularly the bathroom. To do this, limit shower time, and avoid bathing in the bathtub as much as possible It’s best to shower standing up to avoid water stagnation. Next, avoid showers that are too hot and generate too much steam, as this can lead to the appearance of mould on bathroom walls. Always open the window after a shower to allow the space to dry out as much as possible. Make sure you use a squeegee to remove any stagnant water from the shower floor. You should also avoid drying clothes inside the bathroom (even underwear) as much as possible, as this increases humidity.
The kitchen is also a room in which humidity tends to develop. To prevent mould from growing on the walls, always cover pots and pans when cooking, empty the sink and wipe it down with a dry sponge after each dish. Open windows when cooking steamy foods such as rice or pasta.
If, despite all these measures, you find that mould continues to appear on your walls or tile seals, this means that the problem lies within the home and that work may need to be carried out. If this is the case, contact a professional who will be able to identify the areas at risk and the solutions best suited to the problem.